Oct

31

African Americans, particularly African-American women, experience violence resulting in death at the hands of family members more often than any other racial group in the U.S.

Although from 1976 to 2005, intimate-partner homicides among African Americans declined 69.2%, in 2005 African Americans disproportionately accounted for nearly a third of the intimate-partner homicides that occurred in 2005.

The rate of domestic violence in the African-American community can be at least partly attributed to economic factors. Intimate-partner violence occurs more often among low-income couples, particularly those in which the male partner is unemployed/underemployed, as well as couples living in poor neighborhoods.

Alcoholism is related to domestic violence among the African-American couples more so than among White or Hispanic couples.

Domestic violence re-occurs. Over 1/3 of the women who reported domestic violence admitted to being the victim of severe domestic violence earlier in the year.

Overall, African Americans were victimized by intimate partners a significantly higher rates than persons of any other race between 1993 and 1998. Black females experienced intimate partner violence at a rate 35% higher than that of white females, and about 22 times the rate of women of other races. Callie Marie Rennison. and Sarah Welchans, U.S. Dep’t of Just., NCJ 178247, Intimate Partner Violence (2000), available at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/ascii/ipv.txt

African-American women experience significantly more domestic violence than White women in the age group of 20-24. Generally, Black women experience similar levels of intimate partner victimization in all other age categories as compared to White women, but experience slightly more domestic violence. (Estimates are provided from the National Crime Victimization Survey, which defines an intimate partner as a current or former spouse, girlfriend, or boyfriend. Violent acts include murder, rape, sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, and simple assault.) Callie Marie Rennison, U.S. Dep’t of Just., NCJ 187635, Intimate Partner Violence and Age of Victim, 1993-1999, at 4, (2001), available at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/ipva99.htm

In a nationally representative survey conducted in 1996, 29% of African American women and 12% of African American men reported at least one instance of violence from an intimate partner.

Black women comprise 8% of the U.S. population but in 2005 accounted for 22% of the intimate partner homicide victims and 29% of all female victims of intimate partner homicide.2

Intimate partner deaths have decreased most dramatically among black men. From 1976-1985, black men were more likely than black women to be a victim of domestic homicide; by 2005, black women were 2.4 times more likely than a black male to murdered by their partners. Over this period, intimate partner homicides declined by 83% for black men vs. 55% for black women.2

As with women of other races, among African American women killed by their partner, the lethal violence was more likely to occur if there had been incidents in which the partner had used or threatened to use a weapon on her and/or the partner has tried to choke or strangle her.5

Among African American women killed by their partner, almost half were killed while in the process of leaving the relationship, highlighting the need to take extra precautions at that time.5

Among African American women who killed their partner, almost 80% had a history of abuse.

Black women who are battered have more physical ailments,8 mental health issues,4 are less likely to practice safe sex,9 and are more likely to abuse substances during pregnancy10 than black women without a history of abuse.

Battered women are at greater risk for attempting suicide11 particularly if they were physically abused as a child, for being depressed12 and to suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). 13 Women attempt to leave abusive relationships. Seventy to eighty percent of abused black women left or attempted to leave the relationship.5

Women in abusive relationships need the support of friends and family. Battered black women who reported that they could rely on others for emotional and practical support were less likely to be re-abused,14 showed less psychological distress,15 and were less likely to attempt suicide.11

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AMONG BLACK MEN

Black males experienced intimate partner violence at a rate about 62% higher than that of white males and about 22 times the rate of men of other races. Callie Marie Rennison. and Sarah Welchans, U.S. Dep’t of Just., NCJ 178247, Intimate Partner Violence (2000), available at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/ascii/ipv.txt

In a nationally representative survey conducted in 1996, 29% of African American women and 12% of African American men reported at least one instance of violence from an intimate partner.1

Intimate partner deaths have decreased most dramatically among black men. From 1976-1985, black men were more likely than black women to be a victim of domestic homicide; by 2005, black women were 2.4 times more likely than a black male to murdered by their partners. Over this period, intimate partner homicides declined by 83% for black men vs. 55% for black women.2

As with other abusive men, African American men who batter are higher in jealousy and the need for power and control in the relationship.5

Black youth are over represented as victims of teen dating violence. In a 2003 national study of high school students, almost 14% of African American youth (vs. 7% of white youth) reported that a boyfriend or girlfriend had “hit, slapped, or physically hurt them on purpose” in the last year. Boys (13.7%) and girls (14%) were almost equally likely to report being a victim of dating violence.16